Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

About the Program

Our Accelerated Degree Program (ADP) puts a Masters degree in your hand faster and at a lower cost!  You will be able to count up to 12 credit hours of graduate work toward both your baccalaureate and Masters in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies while paying the lower undergraduate tuition.

Who can apply?

Current undergraduate majors in WGSS at UNCG may apply for admission to the Accelerated Degree Program. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, based on at least 30 semester hours earned at UNCG, is required. Applicants must have completed at least 60 semester hours and may not apply for admission to the ADP before the first semester of their junior year.

What is the curriculum?

Courses offered by WGSS and other outstanding faculty across the university provide opportunities for students to engage in varied modes of inquiry on issues of local, national, and international importance. Coursework and independent study lead students to achieve the WGSS graduate programs’ learning objectives:

1. Demonstrate interdisciplinary understanding of the ways that gender, race, culture, class, and sexuality function in society.
2. Demonstrate understanding of power from historical, geopolitical, ethical, and psychological perspectives within global, national, and community contexts.
3. Develop an understanding of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as an intellectual and activist, disciplinary and anti-disciplinary presence within the university, and within local, national, and international communities.
4. Develop varied modes of inquiry informed by the relationship between theory and practice, knowledge and action.

ADP students take selected courses from the regular MA curriculum.

Each student takes two core courses:

• WGSS 650: Feminist Theory: Intersection of Gender, Race, and Class (first Fall of ADP)
• WGSS 651: Feminist Research Analysis (following Spring)

In additon, each student may select up to two of the following courses in consultation with the Graduate Advisor: 

• WGSS 530: Critical Sexuality Studies; Queer Theory
• CST 520: African American Identity and Culture
• HIS 551: Topics in Gender and History
• ENG 688: Women’s Rhetoric and Feminist Pedagogy

To receive graduate credit for 500-level courses, students must meet the course standards for graduate students.

Students are admitted to the MA program in WGSS based on interest and academic achievement without regard to undergraduate major.  All applications must be submitted through the Graduate School’s online application system. (Please see “Applying for the MA Program in WGSS”.)

How to Apply:

• Begin by visiting the WGSS Director of Graduate Studies to complete and sign a “Request for Accelerated Degree Program” form. You will need to submit a scanned copy with your application.
• Go either to the Graduate School or WGSS website and click “Apply here” ( link below), which will take you to the application for the MA program in WGS.
• Select “ADP” or “Accelerated Degree Program”. Complete the application form: it is the same as the form for MA students, but you will be “Accelerated Degree Program”.

Submit your supporting documents:

• Transcripts–you only need to submit transcripts from previous colleges; UNCG transcripts will be handled internally.
• Three letters of recommendation
• Note that standardized entrance exams (GRE, MAT) are not required for the ADP.

In addition, the application to the WGSS MA program requires these items:

• Your statement of purpose–why do you wish to study for a MA in WGSS?
• A sample of your academic writing–usually a research paper from an academic course.

Pay the application processing fee.

Deadline: May 15 for Fall Admission. 

All application fees and supporting materials must be received by that time.

APPLY ONLINE HERE »

Questions? Contact Director of Graduate Studies in WGSS.